Game piece (hieroglyph)

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Gaming Piece " Token " in hieroglyphs

The ancient Egyptian Game piece (hieroglyph), also a Token, or the general term for any gaming-gambling piece, Draughtsman is an ancient hieroglyph. Gaming pieces were certainly required in predynastic times, as the cultural creation of games and entertainment has a long history in most cultures. An ivory-piece lion is known from the Old Kingdom of Ancient Egypt.

Contents 1 Use of the "game piece" hieroglyph 2 Iconographic use 3 Example "gaming tokens" 4 See also 5 References

[edit] Use of the "game piece" hieroglyph

Draughtsman in hieroglyphs

'''To Dance" [of the god] (2 plurals, chick, tokens) in hieroglyphs

The basic word for 'Game piece' or 'draughtsman' is "ab". By implication, people on a flat arena were moving like "pieces"-(from a distance), and numerous varieties of the word 'to dance' include varieties using the "Game piece", as a determinative; two examples are shown: the word 'draughtsman', and 'to dance'-(the plural of "ab", "abU"-(U being the language plural-but also "the bird chick"-hieroglyph in Ancient Egypt).

[edit] Iconographic use

The most common use of the "Gaming piece" as an artefact of Ancient Egypt, would be the use with the game of Senet. The Senet game was often put into tombs and grave sites, as part of the grave goods; the games were part of the pastimes for the afterlife, including any other common 'hobbies' of the deceased–(for example hunting ducks at the marsh using a throwstick). Since board games represent the common man's activities, the Senet game has numerous examples from Ancient Egypt; this also includes the reliefs shown on temple walls, of individuals enjoying their activities in the afterlife.

[edit] Example "gaming tokens"

Some example game pieces of Ancient Egypt. One of the more famous games was "Hounds and Hares", with far less artefacts found of the game.

Gamepieces and board

Old Kingdom gaming piece of ivory. Set of 6, 3 lions, and 3 bulldogs; Abu Rouash, Tomb M, 1st Dynasty, 3.5 x 6.5 cm, Cairo Museum.[1]

Nefertari from her tomb scene, playing Senet

[edit] See also

• Gardiner's Sign List#Y. Writings, Games, Music

[edit] References

• Budge. An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, E.A.Wallace Budge, (Dover Publications), c 1978, (c 1920), Dover edition, 1978. (In two volumes) (softcover, ISBN 0-486-23615-3)
• Schulz, Seidel. Egypt: The World of the Phaaohs, Editors, Regine Schulz, Matthias Seidel, Konemann Verlagsgesellschaft mbH, Cologne, English translation version. (hardcover, ISBN 3-89508-913-3)